Services For Students in Foster Care

Transitional Youth Services is funded by the California Department of Education to protect the educational rights of foster youth and help improve their educational outcomes. At any one time, Santa Barbara County typically has about 550 kids in foster care. The term “foster youth” applies to: youth who have been placed outside their home due to abuse or neglect. Their cases are determined by the Dependency side of the Juvenile Court, and overseen by the Child Welfare Services department. youth who have been placed outside their home due to their own misconduct. Their cases are decided by the Delinquency court and overseen by the Juvenile Probation Department. The Transitional Youth Services program provides the following assistance to the county’s foster youth, and to schools and social service providers that work with them:

Tutoring

Mentoring, support, goal setting

Educational case management

After-school and summer programs

Records collection, credit compiling, immunizations

Assistance with enrollment, transportation, access to school services

Assistance accessing college and jobs

School supplies

Referrals to services

Coordination of services between schools and the social service system

Advocacy and training on the educational needs of homeless and foster youth

Who Can Make a Referral for Services?

Anyone involved in the life of a homeless or foster youth can request assistance with any issues that are affecting a student’s education.

In Their Own Voices Video

In Their Own Voices, a video produced by the Santa Barbara County Education Office is available for purchase. This moving and educational video features children from a Santa Barbara homeless shelter sharing about their experiences with homelessness. Many educators and community members from across the country have used this video to inform others about the challenges facing homeless children and families.